A Wicked Way to Burn

Bracebridge Mystery #1

by Margaret Miles

Witchcraft...or murder?

1763. With the end of the French and Indian War and a new king on England's throne, it seems the colonies have entered a peaceful and prosperous new era. And though the fashionable ladies of Boston might find Bracebridge altogether too peaceful to be stimulating, young widow Charlotte Willett likes it just as it is. But the calm of the little village is about to be shattered by a wealthy stranger who bursts into flame by the side of the road--and then disappears!

The townspeople begin muttering about witchcraft and the devil's hand, casting suspicious glances at a local Frenchman. But Charlotte, who has a keen interest in human nature, and her neighbor Richard Longfellow, gentleman farmer and scientist, have more earthly speculations about the merchant's disappearance. Was it murder, or an elaborate scheme? And, with two mysterious deaths to follow and a tavern full of superstitious rabble, will Charlotte and Longfellow uncover the answers before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 2, 1998

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Barbara Hamilton's excellent mystery series featuring Abigail Adams which is set just prior to the Revolutionary War, I was delighted to find this series set in the 1760's. A Wicket Way to Burn is the first book in Margaret Mile's series featuring Charlotte Willet, a young widow living in the tiny village of Bracebridge, Mass. not far from Boston.

The mystery begins when a stranger wearing a red cape and a hat with a feather, is seen riding his horse into Bracebridge and then walking into the village inn. He sits down, orders ale and flashes a pouch filled with gold Dutch guilders. When he walks out the door, two men follow him. One of them witnesses what appears to be the spontaneous combustion of the stranger out on the Bracebridge main road. Nothing is left, but some ash and the cloak. There is some talk among the villagers of witch craft, of this being the devil's work, and then suspicion falls on a French "neutral" who was seen to walk out behind the stranger and who is not well liked because he is courting the bar maid at the inn. Investigating this apparent murder becomes the task of Charlotte Willett, the highly intelligent and observant young widow, Richard Longfellow, her neighbor, and country farmer with an interest in science, and Edmund Montague, a Crown official who is sent to Bracebridge from Boston to investigate the murder. The trio uses their wits and their heads to follow the clues and the sometimes conflicting stories from witnesses, as well as the information that Montagu finds out about the mysterious stranger. Soon it's apparent that there is much more to this "spontaneous combustion" murder then is first thought.

Margaret Miles describes life during this time period with a sure and knowledgeable hand. Her sense of place adds much to the appeal of this mystery, and she plays fair with the reader when the solution is finally revealed.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the atmosphere of this series, which I first read about ten years ago, and I crave a re-read every fall. I was denied by my readers' advisory class last year, but I was determined to fit it in this Halloween. This first entry pretty much encompasses everything I want in a Halloween season (well, with more Gothic elements), and the author is really skilled in evoking the feeling of pre-colonial America. While she can get heavy-handed in her allusions to future developments in the history of the United States (there's a lot of "mark my words, no one will ever [insert cultural development that has significantly changed the course of history]"), the writing is generally really tight, the heroine is likable, and the mystery is complex. I'll read the next book in the series in the spring when it fits into my seasonal reading plan.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read: fascinating setting, interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. Makes me want to read much, much more about the pre-revolutionary era in colonial America.

[Gloria Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1763, we look at Bracebridge, a peaceful village in one of the colonies. The French and Indian War has ended, but life for the local neutral French can be a bit uncomfortable. This is a story to be taken at a leisurely pace, so leisurely, I was tempted to put it down. But interest in the colonial lifestyle kept me going, so by the middle of the book, we began to see some action.

Taken mostly from the author’s point of view, we can expect the main characters to be the widow Charlotte Willett who runs a successful farm, and her neighbor Richard Longfellow, gentleman farmer and scientist.

The action begins when a ne'er-do-well, sees a man burst into flame and disappear. Right away, superstition sets in, and the villagers are quick to blame their local Frenchman. Charlotte and Richard mull whether the man really burned up or pulled a trick. If a trick, how would it be managed?

Then come what appear to be drownings but are obvious murders. Our heroes must solve the mystery to prevent the pursuit and death of the innocent.

Once we’re into the second half of the book, we find satisfaction in wonderful characters, colonial customs, humor, unrequited love, and the twists that lead to a surprising conclusion.

History buffs should eat this up, but I must say, some of the food Charlotte and Richard eat sounds quite delicious. So, be patient, get comfortable, and enjoy a rewarding read.

[Ed Mestre · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A Wicked Way to Burn” was a pleasant enough mystery of possible spontaneous combustion of a stranger in town. Part of its appeal for me is it takes place in pre-American Revolution era I’ve enjoyed since my youth reading James Fenimore Cooper. It did need better editing, sometimes spelling Curaçao correctly and other times leaving out the cedilla. There were other occasional dyslexic spellings like mixing up quite and quiet. Add to this the author sometimes throwing in an odd sentence like the oxymoronic “… Charlotte exclaimed softly.” Huh??? To exclaim is the opposite of softly. An exclamation point is what it is because it is NOT soft. Ultimately this did not get too much in the way of a pretty original story. But what I enjoyed the most were the characters. The good, bad, and ugly all added something to the tale. But what would bring me back to the other two books in the Bracebridge series is Charlotte Willett. She’s smart, independent, and observant, but not in a Sherlock Holmes way, but just as effective. She has a charm and humility Sherlock never manifested. She fits in this village yet stands apart. A true original.

[Ariadne Cares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles' series opener starts with a strong hint of murder on a dark and lonely New England road, illuminated by a flaming phantom in a red cape. This is a delightful and ingenious introduction to life in Bracebridge and its colorful inhabitants. I found myself wanting to spend more time with Cicero, the wise old freedman with a ready sense of humor, Charlotte, the practical and clever dairy queen, and dashing Edmund Montagu, spy for the Crown. The mystery was both interesting and plausible, and I was thrilled by the vital importance of the vial of dragon perfume. The pacing of this novel was, I think, a more even trot than that of the last Seneca Falls book that I read by Miriam Monfredo, and the period detail in this work made me wonder what it would be like to try hasty pudding, and why almost no one eats it today. Not quite up to the level of Barbara Hamilton's Abigail Adams series, but for my money, so far, no one else is as good as Hamilton, so Miles' work is a lovely second.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read. You immediately like Charlotte and Richard who are neighbors. Richard has never married and Charlotte is a widower, though I believe they are close in age. Richard is wealthy, where Charlotte is of more modest means.

It happens that a stranger comes to Bracebridge town on a scraggly beaten nag in a red cloak carrying gold. He is seen by several citizens along the road and in the tavern/Inn. Shortly after leaving the tavern in sight of many the man, the stranger spontaneously combusts and disappears. What sort of sorcery is at hand? Soon a young man is found drown and the miller is axed. Are the deaths connected?
Read this fine story to see if our level headed neighbors Charlotte and Richard are be able to find answers that are satisfying.

[Zac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it 63% in and unfortunately had to DNF. There is a good mystery story in this book, but as another reviewer put it - it feels like every chapter starts with you listening in mid conversation. Each chapter felt a little disorientating, and names of people and places felt like they were thrown at me in machine gun fashion. I really wanted to like this book, and the mystery was fun, it just felt a little like work to get to it. I did really enjoy the atmospheric writing, though!

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good, and I wasn't sure who the culprit was until the end, which is always good. I don't think I'd read another one, since religion plays a big part and it's written in that kind of annoying way of taking a modern perspective on how things would have been back then. Everyone respected the independent woman, and she was virtuous, etc. I wasn't in love with any of the characters and not interested enough to wait around for the two main characters to get together.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Zee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you ever walked up to two people when they're in the middle of a conversation about someone/something, and no matter how many times you say "Who?" no one clues you in, and you can't figure out what the subject of the conversation is?

That is this entire novel.

Maybe some people like the challenge involved of being shut out of a conversation, but it's not my cup of tea. It was also frustrating because the book is written in third person omniscient (that is, you get the internal thoughts of all characters), but then all the good stuff is left out (For the Reader to Figure out) which did nothing but alienate me from the story, just like being left out of a conversation leaves someone feeling really alienated and awkwardly wondering why they're there.

So that's my major problem with this book, and my reasoning behind avoiding the other Margaret Miles books that have somehow made their way into my bookshelves yet never been cracked open. The whole keep-away game has never appealed to me, whether it's information in a mystery novel or at recess.

Anyway, other grievances:

1. The main character doesn't seem to have a central flaw.

2. In fact 90% of the characters seem flat, especially Diana, who is such a Bimbo Blonde archetype it hurt.

3. I was painfully bored reading this novel and it was kind of like pulling teeth to finish.

4. The author tries to underline that she's not romanticizing the 18th century, but it's literally like -insert passage where cardboard character says cardboard patriarchal remark here- and it's more awkward than it is enlightening.

5. Yeah actually the characters are just really awkward.

6. The plot was so convoluted I can't even summarize the ending for you. Nope. I still haven't figured out who killed who (probably because this book is like being left out of a conversation and if you think of how much you glean from half a conversation, that's what you'll get here).

So, rating: 1 star. I thought about giving it 2, but then I realized that meant it needed a strong point. It lacks one. The plot would probably be really good if it focused on action instead of dialogue, I'll give it that.

And now for people who have read the book, here's a discussion point:

I feel like the book would have been amazing if Miles had written the actual series of crimes, instead of the debunking of it. Yes? No? Thoughts? (Is this the difference between Mystery and Thriller and is my reason for not liking this book not 'this book is awful' but 'this genre doesn't suit me whatsoever?').

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year is 1763, the place just outside of Boston and someone has just spontaneously combusted on the Boston/Worcester road. Well, that certainly starts the story off with a bang! The story follows the investigation into the vanishing of the combusted person, a Boston merchant carrying a suspiciously large amount of Dutch gold coin. Along the way we meet Charlotte Willett, the recently widowed wife of a local farmer, Richard Longfellow (!) and his frivolous half sister Diana, who is visiting from Boston, and Capt. Edmund Montagu, who appears to be a British agent. I had never heard the Acadians called Neutrals before but if they weren't siding with the French then I suppose the most favourable view the English settlers would have would be as Neutral. The story is complicated and you have to remain alert to keep everyone straight but it is a good plot. I found the meals described a little odd and picky, especially the cheese fondue at the end, but the lovely dinner Capt. Montagu provides makes up for it. There were a lot of ends to be picked up and explained in the final chapter but MS Miles manages it fairly neatly. I have the second book in the series and have just started it, so we'll see. I wonder if she's planning to run the series up to the Revolution, since signs of opposition to British rule are already making themselves felt.

[Graculus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read a plethora of mystery novels written by Americans but set in England, I was more than ready to pick up this book given that it's actually set in the US. In this case, the US before it was united, while still under British rule.

Local widow Charlotte Willett is fascinated by the tale of a man who spontaneously combusts on a quiet country road leading out of her village, particularly since she had earlier met the man in question. Since he's a rich Boston merchant but his money seems to have disappeared, questions are asked by more than just the locals about what happened to both him and his wealth.

It's an interesting enough story, although much of it seemed designed as a set-up for a continuing series rather than being a strong enough tale to stand on its own. It's an interesting period in which to set something, but there's little tension in the story telling despite the relatively recent shadow of the Salem witch trials over the whole thing. I'm uncertain whether I'll continue with this series, though given that Too Soon For Flowers has only been published in the US, I might not get the chance anyway...

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading good things about this series on Amazon.com, I was thoroughly looking forward to these books. There are too few mystery novels set in the 1700s. Happily, I was not dissapointed with these. This installment deals with the apparent spontaneous combustion of a stranger out on the Bracebridge main road. The primary sleuths in these novels are Charlotte Willett, an industriously intelligent widow, Richard Longfellow, a country farmer with an interest in science, and Edmund Montague, a Crown official. The details of the crime are carefully but unobtrusively laid out for the readers, allowing the audience to follow the investigation and perhaps guess at the outcome. Meanwhile, the main characters are skillfully rendered, through mixed third person omniscient musings. Miles has a strong sense of her story and time period. Now I am just waiting for that final touch to make this series truly monumental.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up for 2 reasons. The geographical setting is close to where I live and the time period is just after my "favorite" war, the French and Indian War. While there wasn't really much reference to the F&I apart from residual hatred and mistrust of anyone French even if they had no part in the war, the overall period feel was good. Certain characters provide a comparison of society in the larger cities (Boston) and outlying villages & countryside where everyone is perceived as bumpkins. I did not love the autumn into winter time frame since I hate Fall and as the leaves left the trees and first snow fell I got a bit depressed. A good look at the place of women at all levels of society. I have read other Hist-myst series with a somewhat similar period setting so this was nothing new. Not sure I would seek out more in this series unless they fell into my lap.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Charlotte Willett, widow
SETTING: 1763 Massachusetts
SERIES: #1 of 4 (Bracebridge series)
RATING: 2.75
WHY: Although normally not a fan of historicals, I thought the writing on this was good - no artifice as is often case with historicals. In fact, some of the writing was almost poetic. A man disappears as a result of what appears to be spontaneous combustion; two others are murdered shortly thereafter. Charlotte Willet is a widow running a large farm; she is able to deduce exactly what is going on with no evidence. There were a few long digressions about the politics of the time that made things lagged. Appreciated that there were no romantic entanglements. Will not be reading more in the series; better than expected but not entirely satisfying.

[Kellyann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was exited to stumble upon this historical mystery series, one not focused on political intrigue for once. This book provided a colonial New England backdrop with a clever plot and the requisite surprise ending. A stranger passing through a small village bursts into flames. A curious young widow and her science-minded single neighbor piece together the explanation for three separate murders, despite the best efforts of the village mob who are itching for a witch hunt at every turn.

[LynnB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery set in 1763 outside of Boston. Our hero is Charlotte Willett.
The calm of the little village is about to be shattered by a wealthy stranger who bursts into flame by the side of the road--and then disappears!
Not very thrilling but perhaps a good description of living in the times where witchcraft still seems possible, but some scientific methods have been discovered. Plus Charlotte is a "strong woman character", my favorite kind.

[Laume]

I picked up this book from a resale shop simply because the cover made it look like a good seasonally themed whodunit for October. And it was. But I also enjoyed the way described like back in the late 1700's in a way that made me feel like I was there. I thought I'd just read it and pass it on but now I think I'll look for the next three books in the series.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice mystery with an unusual (for mysteries) setting of 18th century America. It has some flaws. The characters aren't necessarily quite realistic and they behave in some odd ways. And the plot is confusing/muddled.

[Cheryl Prentiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in early colonial times which made the language of the book and customs of the characters interesting. It was a mystery revolving around the disappearance/death of a rich old merchant by what some believe to be black magic?

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st in series. Plucky young widow amateur sleuth in colonial New England.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked all the books in this series, which this is the first of. The story takes place in Colonial times and each book has a mystery.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

3&1/2 stars

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great read but unfortunately, owing to an accident my copy's been irrevocably lost. I'm trying to get another one. Once it arrives I'll read and update! I hate when this happens.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

love this whole series - did the author die?

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why, but I found this book painful to read. I typically really like historical fiction books. I could not wait for it to end.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the feel of this novel, especially the glimpses of farm life from that era...

[Kate Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers have indicated, a pleasant enough read but I am not sure if I will continue with the rest of the series.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Held my interest

Even though this book is one in a series it stood alone and held my interest to the end. I will certainly read other books by this author.